18:15 Royal Ascot

I backed ENGLISH OAK quite a few times as a 3yo and it is good to see him confirming that promise now. He caught the eye running on well on reappearance at Newmarket and improved to win impressively at Haydock last time. Things really look to have clicked for him now and even up 9lb I think he could have a bit in hand of the handicapper. He is still unexposed over this trip and with a big field and plenty of cover and a stiff finish he ticks plenty of boxes and I think he’ll follow up. In terms of a danger Carrytheone was right back to his best winning at Newmarket albeit by a short head last month. If he is in that sort of form again then he should get competitive. The X O was third behind Rhoscolyn and Mission To Moon at Epsom and that looks decent form so if he gets a bit of luck could run much better than his odds suggest too